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February 25, 2012

Senate Transportation bill floor debate to begin – Call Levin and Stabenow to support amendments!

This week, the House and Senate will return from their "in-district" work weeks. While the Senate appears ready to begin floor debate (despite several unrelated amendments to deal with) on a two year authorization bill, S. 1813, the House continues to struggle…

February 22, 2012

Two inch rule passes Senate

Yesterday the Senate passed HB 4589, a bill reinstating the long-standing two inch rule for sidewalk liability. In 2009 the Michigan Supreme Court reversed the two inch rule in Robinson v. City of Lansing. This legislation would reinstate that rule…

February 21, 2012

Michigan Municipal League Leads Off Testimony on Revenue Sharing / EVIP

This morning, I testified on behalf of communities throughout Michigan regarding the 2012-13 budget recommendations for the Economic Vitality and Incentive Program (EVIP, formerly statutory revenue sharing). Joining me was Tony Minghine, Associate Executive Director of the League.Before we testified,…

February 20, 2012

Michigan Municipal League Sets Training to Qualify for Next One-Third of EVIP Funding

The deadline to qualify for the next one-third of Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP) funding is May 1, and the League is here to help. The Michigan Municipal League is having a free webinar 10-11 a.m. March 8 to help…

February 20, 2012

Michigan Historical Foreclosure Data Website Goes Live

The Michigan Foreclosure Task Force has launched the Michigan Historical Foreclosure Data website. This is an important new resource for foreclosure information.The website and report can be found at www.cridata.org/michiganforeclosuretaskforce.You can find and download maps, charts and trend lines at…

February 18, 2012

National Broadband Public Safety Network included as part of Payroll tax cut deal

In a major victory for municipalities and first responders across the country, the recently passed and enacted payroll tax cut compromise also includes the creation of a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network. This means that when fully implemented, public safety will…

February 18, 2012

Transportation bills stall in both Houses of Congress

Both the House and Senate proposals to enact a new transportation authorization bill have stalled in their respective chambers. And as different as the bills are (see comparative summary), so are the reasons for their current state. In the House,…

February 17, 2012

Transportation Asset Manangement Conference Scheduled for April

The 2012 Spring Transportation Asset Management Conference will take place on April 25 in Livonia. The Michigan Municipal League is a co-sponsor of this conference that is designed for all local and appointed officials who have an interest in transportation projects…

February 16, 2012

Amtrak celebrates beginning of new 110 mph rail service

Recently Amtrak and MDOT received federal funding to increase the maximum speeds of Amtrak trains in Western Michigan and Northern Indiana to 110 mph. Yesterday, federal, local and state officials joined Amtrak and MDOT for a demonstration of the new…

February 15, 2012

MDOT Call for 2015 Projects for Local Bridge Program

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is soliciting applications for candidate projects for the Local Bridge Program in which selected projects will be funded during the 2015 fiscal year. Click Here for more information and application requirements. The deadline for…

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